PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Fedor Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and No One (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rua
vs
One

183 cm
22
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
20
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Fedor Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, No One!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Yukihiro Shimada and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says One as he avoids it easily.

Rua gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rua working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from One.
Rua trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Rua is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
One is in close to Rua's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rua is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rua is really struggling to control One but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Rua throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Rua is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
One trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
One showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Rua shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Rua was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
One keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
One is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Rua cracks One with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rua lands a heavy elbow.
Rua unloading with bombs!
Rua cracks One with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

One is rocked!
Rua scores with a couple of good head shots there.
One is still in real trouble! Can Rua finish him?
The referee warns One that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

It looks like No One has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!

Rua looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
One throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
One wants to hold on but Rua pushes him away.
One looks gassed!
Rua breaks from One's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rua with good strikes from the mount here!
One controls the position.
One is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
One seems to have recovered his senses.
Rua punishing his opponent with strikes.
Rua dominating with strikes here.
Rua lands with some strikes.

Rua working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Rua punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua breaks from One's wrist control and lands an elbow.
One wants to control but Rua is having none of it.
One working to try and regain half guard.
Rua in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
One can't escape the position.
Rua dominating with strikes here.
One can't escape the position.
Rua trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rua has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
One is in all sorts of trouble here.
One bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Rua is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
One wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
One passes easily into side control. Nice work.
One landing strikes.
Rua gets back to half guard.
One content to control rather than advance.
Rua wants to control but One is keeping busy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rua wants to improve his position but One is controlling well.
Rua is in trouble now - One has advanced to mount!
Rua tries to lock up and control but One gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fedor Rua dominated that round.
The cut man is working on No One's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rua fails in his attempt to clinch.

One darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rua is looking to improve his position.
One throwing shots but Rua is blocking nicely.
Rua tries to get to full guard but One has control of the leg.
Rua is staying active underneath One, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
One takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Rua wants to get back to full guard.
One blocks the strikes from Rua.
Rua wants to control but One is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
One is looking to clinch.

Rua gets a takedown into half guard.
Rua working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
One wants to control but Rua is keeping busy and won't allow it.
One is staying active underneath Rua, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
One is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Rua lands a nice short elbow.
Rua scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Rua sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. One defending well though.
Rua throws a strike but One avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
One controls Rua momentarily but Rua frees himself.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
One is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
One tries to clinch up.

Rua drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
One looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rua working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of One's head.
Rua landing some decent shots from guard.
One looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua scoring with some ground and pound.
Rua is fighting to break One's control of his arms but One is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Rua makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
One avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
One wants to sweep here but Rua controlling him for the moment.
Rua landing some decent shots from guard.
Rua postures up in One's guard and throws a big left but One blocks it.
Rua scoring with punches to the head and body.
One working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rua.
Rua throwing strikes but missing.
Rua postures up.
One keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rua throws and elbow that misses. One uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rua's guard. Nice move by One!
Rua is striking off his back. One thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Rua wants to improve his position but One is controlling well.
Rua gets full guard.

One decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rua, up you get!
Fedor Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rua fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. One sprawls well initially but Rua persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rua is trying to control the action in half guard but One is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rua scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Rua winds up and cracks One with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
One is trying to maintain the position but Rua is very close to passing his half guard.
One is not content to let Rua control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua drops an elbow to the side of One's head.
One is trying to get back to full guard.
Rua passes to full mount!
One blocking the ground and pound.
One tries to reverse the position but Rua maintains control.
Rua sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
One wants to control but Rua is having none of it.
One wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
One is looking to improve his position but Rua isn't that keen on the idea.
One is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rua avoids the attempt from One to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fedor Rua dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on No One's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from One.

Rua decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
One wants to control but Rua is keeping busy.

Rua is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, One has managed to free his arm - good work.
Rua is looking to take a break and control but One is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
One is trying to control but can't.
Rua takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
One tries to get to full guard but Rua has control of the leg.
Rua landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
One stalks Rua and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Rua's face. Rua staggers backwards, shaken.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice takedown defense from Rua. No joy for One on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
One with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Rua to score with a decent uppercut.
One shoots and misses

and Rua holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Fedor Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of No One.
One using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
One digs a right hand into Rua's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Rua's gas tank.
One tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rua just stands there and leans against the cage.
One wants to get back to striking at distance but Rua won't allow it.
One tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
One wants to break free but Rua has control.
Rua drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
One throws a punch but it's blocked by Rua.
One tries to stall but Rua uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Rua prevents One from breaking the clinch.
Rua goes for a takedown attempt but One pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Rua shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rua landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
One blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rua.
Ground and pound from Rua.
Rua seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but One does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rua is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because One is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
One is looking to improve his position.
Nice strikes from Rua there.
Rua is tying to control. One wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rua sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. One defending well though.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
A big left from One misses.
One gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Rua drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
One working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

One has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rua can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rua content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rua keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of One's head.
One is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rua looking to pass the guard.
Fedor Rua overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rua is looking to work some ground and pound but One has wrist control.
Rua controlling from the top position.
Rua trying to control but One is working from the bottom.
Rua stands up over One, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
One is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rua keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of One's head.
Rua sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rua postures up in One's guard and throws a big left but One blocks it.
Rua is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rua lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Rua gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
One tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rua swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rua shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and One counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rua's guard now.
One trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
One throwing strikes but missing.
One takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
No One has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rua looking for a sweep. Not yet Rua, not yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fedor Rua showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rua, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fedor Rua!